Leather printing with real plants皮革上的植物印染

 

It's interesting to make a leather purse from scratch even printed the leather with real plants.  Make own designed signature case is wonderful. I printed the raw lamb leather with own grown flowers together with some picked on ground.

 

I made two cross shoulder purses with the printed leather.  Just a scrap and made two. I find it more easy to sew with lined canvas. You will see how they're made. Both the front and the back with printed leather.

 

 It's roomy for accessories, key, wallet goodies etc.

The back with pockets too

 

These are the two leather purses I recently made and that's my favourite printing.

 

After a walk in the beach, grab a coffee keep the trouble away at the bay.

This is the original layout of plants and printout after 

You may find it inspired

Key success is to mordant the leather.  First to wet the leather, soak in mordant solution. Iron, alum …..are the main ingredients but of course with other substances too. A glimpse to see how it looks.  My instant download pdf tutorial shows step-by-step making or here's the link of my shop for other tutorials.

Botanical printed leather bag making植物印染皮革包包

Last post I mentioned my students learning.  It's always happy to see how my students’ final pieces of botanical printing turn out to practical items. Fung is artistic and creative. She learned the leather printing and finally finished the beautiful handmade bag. It’s one-of-a-kind, unique and functional. 

To make own botanical leather printing is not that difficult. My instant download pdf tutorial is inspiring. I have made some purses and bags with own printed substrates. If I could make the very professional one as this would be great. Fung said most of the bag is hand stitched and the final design of the bag was done by her uncle who loves leather crafts. My hats off to him.

前次貼文有關學生堂上製作，能夠見到學生把植物印染皮革做成實用物，使我大開眼界，尤其甚具藝術創意的楓，這個由她自已鋪陳至完成為一個獨特祗此一款的皮包包，令我羨慕又欣慰。

皮革印染不太難，我的網購教材詳列步驟，自行製作印染皮革工藝是多麼樂趣。

 

Functional and beautiful design

Original layout and final pretty bag

Pleasant private leather printing workshop 悠然皮革印染

 Private teaching is a pleasure especially with artistic students. We get inspired each other in a leisure way. That day I have a lovely student Wf come again for an in-depth learning of botanical printing on leather.  We started showing samples of printed leather purses then decided what layout and outcome to achieve in the half day session.

教學相長，我的學生很有創意，特別是有藝術才華的楓，這日她特意再來深入學習植物皮革印染，去年她印染的皮革已製作成一個漂亮獨特包包，今回再要製作媒染技巧及不同風格鋪陳，一個下午我們悠悠閒談交流，看她的印染效果，簡約舒泰，下回貼文她第一次由零開始製成的獨特皮包包，再一次謝謝楓的學習。

 

 The leather I printed and made them purses for reference 

 Everything is ready in my home studio with pre mordant sheep leather.

 

Artist Wf has strong art background.  She cut the leather into three pieces.  Make it one after one with creative idea for the delicate layout

 

The first piece simply with iron and tannin with theme of gerbera and weeds. 

After steaming,  time to peeling off.  Always exciting moment for botanical printing.

 

The big gerbera is quite delicate 

 

This one is bold and background contrast as expected

 

The second one covered with cotton spots soaked in logwood 

 

Wf is very creative. I get inspired by this layout. Clean and clear.

The last piece simply covered with cotton strips soaked in logwood 

 

 

 

Quite an impressive outcome

In the afternoon she made the three pieces of different layouts. 

I'm sure she will make use of them and turn the swatches into something special.

 

 Thank you Wf for coming and I'm expecting to see more of her creation.

Last but not least, this is part of the piece she printed before and already made an awesome handbag. I will post some images after sorting out.  It's really unique and so beautiful.

Printing leather indeed is not too complicate. You may find my instant download pdf tutorials inspiring.  They are available in my on line ETSY shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botanical printed leather/fabric dress

Set of botanical printed leather apron-wrap dress and espadrille just made.  Absolutely one of a kind.  I'm quite pleased with this own made wearable.  I must say that the garment made with huge thanks to Nicola Brown, my good friend I know since she taught me wool felting.  A couple of months ago I went to Ireland and we had a great time together for botanical printing interaction. Nicola is very generous to give me the exquisite "crust" hide and wool fabric for the printing with her own grown plants.  I made the big nice prints of leather and wool.  Back home with fabulous ideas to make them into memorable wears.

The leather Nicola bought from Linda G Illumanardi who is a brilliant eco printer based in the US. She prints so well on leather and was so generous to share her tutorial with me too. This big piece of leather I have never seen before.  At first I was hesitate to print with as it's huge to handle.  If I made it wrong I would have ruined such expensive leather. Nicola was so kind to encourage me to go ahead and make the most of it.  So that I combined with Linda's way of working and my own to print it.  It's a big piece but as usual "less is more" for me. I just put on a few leaves and flower is the main theme.

It came out so pleasing.  I was thinking to make it a work apron but seems a waste.  Finally I made it a wearable apron dress with panels of linen/silk printing. Just simple cutting and lining I made this wrapped dress. It's easy piece of free size and two-way dressing.

 The big wool yardage and the huge lambskin botanical printing done in Nicola's studio are the nice keepsakes of my holiday in Ireland.

From below images you will see how it looks in different style.

早前在愛爾蘭Nicola Brown 莊園印製的兩大片羊皮及羊毛氈植物染終製作成衣物，一件羊皮夾絲麻長裙及兩件袖子被肩上衣，很多謝Nicola 的濃情厚意送給我這些貴重物料作研究，成為那次旅程訪友的珍貴紀念製品。

 

Lined arm holes and neckline with printed scraps 

  

Intended raw edges of leather

Button at the back for tight waist style.  Small buttons on both sides to make it loose style.

The wool yardage I made into two wrap tops.

 

The three generations of us - daughter-in-law and granddaughter, we all in eco printing.

 

This easy to sew garment fits all size and age. 

 

Nicola Brown based in Ireland and teaches on line eco printing. She's great and brilliant to share her techniques of eco printing and wool felting.

Linda G Illumanardi  based in the US teaches botanical printing and supplies exquisite leather for printing.

 I have a wonderful stay with Nicola and learned a lot.  Such great memories bond in mind.

We walked up the mountain 

Gathered flowers and leaves in her house

Made the beautiful prints 

Nice drapping of the printed leather

Creating in such gorgeous environment is inspiring 

The big wool yardage printed and made into two wrap coats

Thank you so much my great friend, Nicola !